Rollers Patents (Class 193/37)
  • Patent number: 7070042
    Abstract: A bladed pulley including a plurality of blades extending from a first end to a second end. The bladed pulley having spaced apart blades and an open, central volume configuration to permit conveyed material to fall through the pulley. The bladed pulley further having an orienting structure designed to radially orient and position each of the blades about a longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Oxbo International Corporation
    Inventors: Paul W. Dow, Steven S. Dow
  • Patent number: 7051554
    Abstract: Rolls for generally conveying sheets, such as of steel or glass over a roller typically have a steel mandrel and fiber-containing roll cover, with the fiber roll cover pressed between end plates. In a roll end assembly including the end plates there is now provided an axial shaft beyond the end plate. The shaft incorporates a roll compression means. The compression means includes a compression element which element engages the end plate. Pressure from the compression means, which may be exerted from beyond the shaft, can thereby be transmitted to the fiber roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Global Consulting, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles M. Hart
  • Patent number: 7036648
    Abstract: A roller turn roller for an industrial conveyor comprises a continuous axle tube having opposed ends and a central axis of rotation, a pair of axially spaced, tapered roller bearings on the axle tube spaced inwardly from its ends, a roller shell supported by the bearings for rotation about the axis of the tube, and a pair of axially spaced retainers secured to the tube with the roller bearings disposed therebetween. Each of the retainers engages a corresponding bearing to pre-load the bearings to a desired clearance. A fastener extending across a pair of mounting bars on the conveyor, and through the axle tube mounts the roller turn roller between the bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Automatic Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian D. Bowen
  • Patent number: 7032734
    Abstract: A wheel assembly (1) for supporting and guiding a rotating milking platform the assembly (1) having a metal hub (2) with sealed bearings (3) and an outermost nylon rim (4) supported by the metal hub (2) and interlocked therewith by a spring clip (5) positioned so as to be within each of a circumferential slot (6, 7) in an outer face of the metal hub (2) and an inner face of an outermost rim (4), where the outermost rim (4) is of a material other than metal with a low coefficient of friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: John Austin Constructions PTY LTD
    Inventor: John Austin
  • Patent number: 7028825
    Abstract: A roller insert for a conveyor roller tube including a cartridge having inner and outer ends and configured to be inserted into an end of a conveyor roller tube; a stub axle positioned within the cartridge, the stub axle including an elongate body portion, a cylindrical tip portion extending away from the body portion, and an end cap having distal and proximal ends and a hardness less than that of the tip portion, the end cap threadingly secured on the cylindrical tip portion; and at least one bearing mounted within the cartridge and supporting the axle such that the cartridge is rotatable with respect to the axle and the axle is slidable with respect to the bearing; wherein the axle is biased outwardly from the cartridge such that the end cap projects outwardly from the cartridge outer end. A conveyor roller and an axle for a conveyor roller are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Inventor: C. Winfield Scott
  • Patent number: 6962030
    Abstract: A conventional land drilling rig is interconnected to the substructure for an oilfield pad location. The interconnected drilling rig is placed on top of matting. The matting has embedded rollers to facilitate movement of the drilling rig as a “convoy” across the mat from one wellhead to another wellhead. The buildings in the mud tank system may also be interconnected and move in a separate convoy but in tandem with the first convoy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: PD International Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Orlie Conn
  • Patent number: 6948900
    Abstract: A wire flow rack system including a longitudinal wire, a roller wire, a roller and an optional cap. The roller wire is joined with and transverse to the longitudinal wire and includes an unsupported free end that projects beyond the longitudinal wire. The roller defines an axial bore, and is positioned on the free end so that the it is free to rotate about the roller wire. A end element, for example, a cap, can be joined with the free end to prevent the roller from disengaging the free end. The cap can be friction fit with the free end and easily, manually replaceable relative to the free end, without the use of tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Life Time Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Larry D. Neuman
  • Patent number: 6935486
    Abstract: The invention provides an improved live roller conveyor system for preventing damage to conveyed cases of goods when stopped upon live rollers. In an embodiment of the invention, a live roller comprises a drive shaft with a plurality of roller members rotatably affixed thereto. One or more bushings are provided between an inner surface of each roller member and an outer surface of said drive shaft. When a conveyed case is stopped along the conveyor, for example, during case layer formation for loading onto a pallet, the rollers underneath the case stop rotating relative to the drive shaft due to slippage between the bushings and drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Production Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: O'Neal Wright Davis
  • Patent number: 6935488
    Abstract: A bladed pulley including a plurality of blades extending from a first end to a second end. The bladed pulley having spaced apart blades and an open, central volume configuration to permit conveyed material to fall through the pulley. The bladed pulley further having orienting members located at the ends of the pulley, the orienting members including slots that radially orient and position each of the blades about a longitudinal axis of the bladed pulley. Ends of the blades define bores configured to receive bearing or hub components. The bladed pulley may include retaining members to retain the bearing or hub components within the bores defined by the ends of the blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Oxbo International Corporation
    Inventors: Paul W. Dow, Steven S. Dow, Christopher M. Schloesser
  • Patent number: 6918708
    Abstract: In order to manufacture a discharging roller which discharges a recording medium from a recording apparatus, there are a first die formed with a first recess extending in an axial direction of a shaft portion of the discharging roller, and a second die formed with a second recess extending in the axial direction. The first die and the second die are combined such that the first recess and the second recess face to form a continuous cavity. Synthetic resin is injected into the cavity to mold a bore portion of the shaft portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Noda, Takao Kanzawa, Hiroshi Hamakawa
  • Patent number: 6910571
    Abstract: A multi-section conveyor roller is engageable with a conveyor belt moveably mounted on a conveyor frame assembly. The roller includes a rotatable mounting hub connected to the conveyor frame assembly, and a plurality of adjacently disposed roller segments fixed to the mounting hub to form belt-engaging, curved outer wall surfaces. The outer wall surfaces are separated by a number of gaps, at least one of the gaps receiving rib structure provided on the conveyor belt for maintaining proper movement of the conveyor belt on the conveyor frame assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Dorner Mfg. Corp.
    Inventor: Daniel E. Ertel
  • Patent number: 6866139
    Abstract: Conveyor systems for storage and movement of goods on pallets and slip sheets. The transfer structures enable slip sheet mounted loads to be transferred to a roller conveyor by providing structures that cooperate with wide platen forks of a lift truck. The structures provide roller contact between a portion of the underside of the slip sheet at all times. In other areas there is alternatively contact between a lift truck platen or additional rollers that cooperate in a manner making it possible to move the slip sheet mounted load from the lift truck to an adjacent conveyor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Jolex Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Joseph Lawless, Roumen V. Stoyanov
  • Patent number: 6828402
    Abstract: A resin composite characterized in that it includes: a polymer compound which is an alternating copolymer of a saccharic compound and an aliphatic compound and has a three-dimensional network; and a plasticizer contained in the gap in the three-dimensional network of the above polymer compound, the production of the resin composite contributing to making good use of waste vegetable resources, such as used paper and waste molasses, as raw materials, the resin composite having elasticity and flexibility just as does rubber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshihiko Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 6814213
    Abstract: A molded plastics bearing housing for receiving a roller bearing which is press-fitted into and end of a conveyor roller tube is disclosed. The body portion of the housing extends radially inward as neck portion terminates in two rims, one rim sealing against the shaft supporting the conveyor roller and the other sealing against an inner race of the bearing. Both sealing rims are curved in section so as to make low angles with the roller shaft and bearing. The flexibility of this sealing arrangement absorbs axial movements between the conveyor shaft and the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: JLV Industries Pty LTD
    Inventors: Kingsley Bruce Dyson, Derek Alfred Sealey
  • Patent number: 6808063
    Abstract: A motor-installed roller (3) has a roller body (6) and a prime mover unit (35) installed in this body and composed of a motor (33) and a reducer (34). The roller body (6) has opposite ends closed with closures (7) serving as closures and having cavities (22) formed in it. An external force is applied to an area of outer periphery of the roller body (6), the area corresponding to and facing each cavity (22) so as to plastically deform portions of the roller body and the closure (7). A punched hook engagement (65) formed in this manner serves to easy consolidation of the closure (7) such as the closure, a bearing or the like and the roller body (6) into the motor-installed roller (3), in which they are protected from moving relative to each other in tangential and axial directions, also inhibiting the closure (7) from slipping off even if subjected to vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Itoh Electric Company, Limited
    Inventors: Kazuo Itoh, Kazuaki Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20040200688
    Abstract: Described is an object transport system that includes a plurality of roller tracks and roller guides. The roller tracks each include a plurality of rollers. Each roller track includes a keyway capable of receiving a key or interlocking component included in a roller track guide. The guide attaches to one side of the roller track. When the guide and roller track are interlocked, the roller track is perpendicular to the one side of the roller track to assist in controlling the movement of objects on the rollers of the roller track. The system includes pairs of roller tracks arranged such that for an n-pair arrangement of roller tracks, n+1 guides are used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2002
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Inventor: Lawrence Sorgi
  • Patent number: 6802410
    Abstract: A polyurethane conveyor roller end cap internally houses rolling bearing and externally is interference-fitted into an end of a roller tube. The outside surface of the body of an end cap, although arranged in large part to engage the tube, has provided therein a circumferential line of blind recesses designed to minimize the amount of polyurethane used for the end cap while still allowing for the provision of load bearing column of polyurethane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: JLV Industries Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kingsley Bruce Dyson, Derek Alfred Sealey
  • Patent number: 6793060
    Abstract: A simplified construction for a conveyor wheel wherein the outer shell of the wheel is formed from two identical shell members which can be identical stampings, with these stampings being hardened and then fixed together to define the assembled shell. The stampings when fixed together are disposed in opposed relationship, and the stampings have inner arcuate raceways which directly define an outer raceway for an annular array of bearing balls. The stampings have outer transversely oriented channel parts which, when the raceways are fixed together, have the open channel parts aligned and abutted to define a generally closed tubular cross section which defines the rim of the wheel. The channel parts have outer flanges which effectively abut and define the outer annular tread of the wheel, the latter being substantially cylindrical to provide a smooth and flat cylindrical surface having a substantial contact area for a load. The edges of the tread are rounded to prevent load damage or hang-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: L.B. International, Inc.
    Inventor: John Veitch
  • Publication number: 20040178043
    Abstract: The invention relates to a roller table roll used, in particular, for conveying furnace-heated metallic strip material, cast billets made of steel and the like. The roller table roll comprises a roll shaft (4) and a roll casing (1) that is mounted on the roll shaft (4) at least at the roll ends (2; 3). The aim of the invention is to prevent damages caused by electric currents and by sparking on the product surface. To this end, the roll casing (1) is mounted on the roll shaft (4) while being electrically and/or thermally insulated at least at the roll ends (2; 3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Inventors: Peter Brinkmeier, Dankfried Klempel
  • Patent number: 6782996
    Abstract: A conveyor roller includes at least one axle cartridge and is mounted at opposite sidewalls of a conveyor. The axle cartridge includes a bearing assembly at an outer end and an inner support at an inner end. The bearing assembly provides rotational support of a roller portion about the axle portion, while the inner support is spaced from an inner end of the axle portion during normal use of the roller. The inner support may provide contact support at the inner axle portion in response to loading induced deflection of the roller, whereby the inner support limits flexing or bending of the roller portion and may limit binding of the bearing assembly during such loading conditions. The axle portion may include one or more guide members arranged along a generally tapered or conical-shaped axle end for guiding the axle portion into a correspondingly formed opening in the conveyor sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Rapistan Systems Advertising Corp.
    Inventor: Stephen C. Wolf
  • Publication number: 20040163925
    Abstract: Readily bendable rolling conveyor guides are provided. The guides include axle-positioning members having notches. The axle-positioning members slidably engage channels of a structural support member. A plurality of axles carrying rotatable elements and spacers are disposed between the axle-positioning members. Due to the notches in the axle-positioning members and the unique cross-section of the exterior of the channels, the assembled guides may be bent at small radii without causing distortion of the channels or interference between the axle-positioning members and the channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Inventor: Stuart J. Ledingham
  • Patent number: 6769528
    Abstract: An inexpensive, high capacity, and easy to install roller (20) for engaging hot metal plates being transferred over a cooling bed plate transfer grid. An invertible block which may have a bearing is provided at each end of the axle (22) for the roller. The bearing block (24) is received in a cut-out in the upper edge of a respective elongate parallel grid member. The bearing block (24) is clamped in the cut-out by a plate which is received in a pair of slots in forward and aft edges of the cut-out to clampingly overlie the bearing block (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Inventor: Ronald L. Plesh, Sr.
  • Patent number: 6755299
    Abstract: A motor-installed roller (3) has a roller body (6) with ends closed with fixtures (7), and apertures (30,31) are formed in the roller body and fixtures, respectively. A recess (32) also formed in each fixture (7) extends in axial direction of this fixture so as to communicate with the aperture (31). A hollow pin (9) as the fastener has a solid basal portion (36) and a collapsible foot (35). This foot is deformed by an external force applied to the solid portion in its axial direction, so as to extend along the inner surface of the recess (32) such that the hollow pin (9) is locked in place not to slip off even if subjected to vibration. The solid portion (36) of this pin prevents the roller body (6) from moving relative to the fixture (7), or relative to any closures, bearings or the like easily attached to the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Itaoh Electric Company Limited
    Inventors: Kazuo Itoh, Kazuaki Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20040108189
    Abstract: A motor-installed roller (3) has a roller body (6) and a prime mover unit (35) installed in this body and composed of a motor (33) and a reducer (34). The roller body (6) has opposite ends closed with closures (7) serving as closures and having cavities (22) formed in it. An external force is applied to an area of outer periphery of the roller body (6), the area corresponding to and facing each cavity (22) so as to plastically deform portions of the roller body and the closure (7). A punched hook engagement (65) formed in this manner serves to easy consolidation of the closure (7) such as the closure, a bearing or the like and the roller body (6) into the motor-installed roller (3), in which they are protected from moving relative to each other in tangential and axial directions, also inhibiting the closure (7) from slip-ping off even if subjected to vibration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Applicant: Itoh Electric Company Limited
    Inventors: Kazuo Itoh, Kazuaki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6729466
    Abstract: A roller body having a shaft formed from a first thermoplastic material and defining at least one roller. The shaft is a single component injection-molded shaft. A casing at least partially encases the roller and is formed from a second thermoplastic material different from the first thermoplastic material. The casing is bonded to the roller by an injection-molding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Sarnatech BNL Ltd.
    Inventors: Stephan Lerch, Thomas Rutishauser
  • Patent number: 6726003
    Abstract: A shaft 6 of a motorized roller 1 is fastened to a side wall 17a of a frame 17 through a plate 19. An engaging portion 14 of the shaft 6 is fitted into a hole 21 of the plate 19 so as to prevent rotation of the shaft 6 relative to the plate 19. As a nut 22 tightened on a threaded portion 15 of the shaft 6 presses and urges the plate 19 against the side wall 17a, teeth 20 formed at the corners of the plate 19 bite into the surface of the side wall 17a and prevents rotation of the plate 19 relative to the side wall. Thus the shafts 6, 7 are fastened unrotatably relative to the side wall 17a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Itoh Electric Company Limited
    Inventors: Kazuo Itoh, Tomonobu Hasegawa
  • Publication number: 20040074735
    Abstract: A storage roller is disclosed for storing a soft object, such as papers, blueprints, drawing papers, clothes, sporting mats, and etc. The storage roller includes a bar and a fin. The fin guides the soft object to be winding along the outer of the bar. It provides to carry the soft object easily and protects the soft object from folding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventor: Chi-Da Lu
  • Patent number: 6702091
    Abstract: An elongated cylindrical roller tube is rotatably supported between frame members by a pair of bearing units secured to opposite end portions of the tube. Each bearing unit includes a tubular shaft supporting a hexagonal stub axle for axial movement between an outwardly projecting position engaging a frame member and an inwardly retracted position against the bias of a spring member. An anti-friction bearing is mounted on the tubular shaft and is retained within the roller tube by an annular adapter. An annular dust cover projects radially outwardly from the tubular shaft to protect the bearing. Some parts are molded of an electrically conductive plastics material, and each hexagonal stub axle has a slightly resilient outer surface and a tapered and twisted outer tip portion. The stub axles are reinforced by axially extending core pins or by opposite end portions of a cylindrical connecting rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Rolcon, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank D. Nimmo, William R. Merz, W. Howard Newton
  • Publication number: 20040035683
    Abstract: A roller drive unit for transporting items of freight in an aircraft cargo hold is provided in which a drive motor is coupled to a drive roller. The drive roller comprises a core and a covering fastened thereto that has an outer surface that can be brought into frictional contact with a bottom of an item of freight in order to transport said item. So that high durability can be achieved even when the material used for the covering is relatively soft, it is proposed that the covering should comprise at least one delimiting layer, so constructed and so disposed between at least one inner covering layer and an outer covering layer that on one hand the covering layers are firmly connected to one another and on the other hand a spreading of a fissure from the one covering layer into the other covering layer is limited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventor: Thomas Huber
  • Publication number: 20030188951
    Abstract: As simplified construction for a conveyor wheel wherein the outer shell of the wheel is formed from two identical shell members which can be identical stampings, with these stampings being hardened and then fixed together to define the assembled shell. The stampings when fixed together are disposed in opposed relationship, and the stampings have inner arcuate raceways which directly define an outer raceway for an annular array of bearing balls. The stampings have outer transversely oriented channel parts which, when the raceways are fixed together, have the open channel parts aligned and abutted to define a generally closed tubular cross section which defines the rim of the wheel. The channel parts have outer flanges which effectively abut and define the outer annular tread of the wheel, the latter being substantially cylindrical to provide a smooth and flat cylindrical surface having a substantial contact area for a load. The edges of the tread are rounded to prevent load damage or hang-up.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Inventor: John Veitch
  • Publication number: 20030183480
    Abstract: Moulded plastics bearing housing (10), receiving rolling bearing (26), is press-fitted into end (72) of conveyor roller tube (74). Body portion (12) of housing (10) extends radially inward as neck portion (46) terminating in two rims, one sealing against shaft (82) supporting the conveyor roller and the other sealing against inner race (30) of bearing (26). Both sealing rims are curved in section so as to make low angles with shaft (82) and bearing (26). The flexibility of this sealing arrangement absorbs axial movements between shaft (82) and the roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventors: Kinglsey Bruce Dyson, Derek Alfred Sealey
  • Patent number: 6622853
    Abstract: A dead shaft or motorized conveyor pulley in which a drum is mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation on a shaft mounted against rotation, has the shaft mounted in a pivot sphere. The sphere is mounted in a complementarily socketed block against rotation around the axis of rotation but to permit angular movement in response to misalignment of the shaft from one of the drum to the other end during installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Stephen E. Bond, Jr., James K. Simonelli
  • Publication number: 20030146065
    Abstract: An inexpensive, high capacity, and easy to install roller (20) for engaging hot metal plates being transferred over a cooling bed plate transfer grid. An invertible block which may have a bearing is provided at each end of the axle (22) for the roller. The bearing block (24) is received in a cut-out in the upper edge of a respective elongate parallel grid member. The bearing block (24) is clamped in the cut-out by a plate which is received in a pair of slots in forward and aft edges of the cut-out to clampingly overlie the bearing block (24).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Inventor: Ronald L Plesh
  • Patent number: 6598729
    Abstract: A wall element incorporating idle rollers, presenting a body with seats into which stationary pins carrying idle rollers are snap-fitted; said body presents two parts (22, 30), of which one is the lower base part (22) and the other the upper base part (30), these being structurally separate, but connected together by just the pins (10, 21), which present end portions (15, 15A) transversely wider than adjacent portions (11a, 21a) provided for their snap-fitting into seats (12a,b,c; 22a,b,c) in said two parts (22, 30), said wider portions (15, 15A) abutting against said seats to prevent any movement of said parts (22, 30) in the axial direction of the pins (10, 21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: System Plast S.p.A.
    Inventors: Sergio Marsetti, Rodolfo Reatti
  • Publication number: 20030136628
    Abstract: Polyurethane conveyor roller end cap (10) internally houses rolling bearing (30) and externally is interference-fitted into an end of roller tube (52). The outside surface of body (12) of end cap (10), although arranged in large part to engage tube (52), has provided therein a circumferential line of blind recesses (44) designed to mininimise the amount of polyurethane used for the end cap while still allowing for the provision of load bearing column (58) of polyurethane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Inventors: Kinglsey Bruce Dyson, Derek Alfred Sealey
  • Patent number: 6554117
    Abstract: The invention is particularly useful for coacting with roller tubes of conveyor apparatus. A cartridge bearing including a stub axle with a tip of greater hardness than the surface circumscribing the aperture receiving the stub axle is inserted into an end of a conveyor roller tube. Along with being electrically conductive, the stub axle can be provided with a damper for reducing vibration. The stub axle engages an electrically conductive stub shaft and moves axially with respect to the stub shaft to operatively interlock with the aperture of the fixed structure. Use of the cartridge bearing provides for the grounding of static charge that can accumulate during operation of conveyor roller tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Mathews Conveyor, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark W. Henson, Michael E. Moser, Jonathan Hoole, James T. Patrick
  • Patent number: 6550609
    Abstract: A supporting roller (12, 122, 123) that has a greater than usual capacity for constant operation comprises a skirt (14), for supporting a return side (16) of an endless chain of a chain conveyor, and, coaxial with the skirt (14), a hub (18) designed to rotate idly on a journal (19), and, in addition, a sleeve (20) made of a material having high friction laid over the skirt (14), in particular overmolded around the skirt (14) or slid axially onto the skirt (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Rexnord Marbett S.p.A.
    Inventors: Daniele Coen, Piero Mondello
  • Patent number: 6547054
    Abstract: A conveyor roller having a spring loaded telescoping tubular axle with tapered hexagonal shaped ends allowing quick replacement in the side frame openings of a conveyor when the openings are worn to an oversize. The tapered hex ends also provide for a tight fit between hex ends and hex holes in the frame to lessen relative motion (rattling) between the two surfaces that causes wear and noise. The roller can be installed from either side of the conveyor because the axle is collapsible from either end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Alvey Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian L. Gamache
  • Patent number: 6540470
    Abstract: The motorcycle wheel washing ramp comprised of a frame including opposing sidewalls and at least one incline wall substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls. The sidewalls have opposing apertures to adjustably receive parallel aligned rollers to permit the motorcycle wheel to advance upward onto the ramp and over the two parallel rollers after which the wheel may be manually turned for washing, cleaning and/or polishing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Inventors: Gerald F. Smith, Timothy R. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6540068
    Abstract: A rim assembly for a roller assembly and method of forming a rim assembly for cargo mover systems are disclosed. Various steps and construction details are developed for affecting the response of the rim assembly to operative conditions. In one detailed embodiment, the roller assembly has a rim assembly having a rolling surface whose operative surface characteristics are set by the material of the surface material; and structure is disposed inwardly of the rolling surface which affects the bulk behavior of the roller assembly. In one particular embodiment, the roller assembly is adapted for use with moving doors or wall panels in elevator systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: John P. Wesson, Renee H. Croteau
  • Patent number: 6527097
    Abstract: A conveyor idler includes a sleeve having an outer surface and an inner surface, a shaft about which the sleeve can rotate in a forward direction, a locking mechanism for preventing the sleeve from rotating in a reverse direction, but which locking mechanism permits rotation of the sleeve in the forward direction, the locking mechanism being located within the sleeve and having a shaft member fixed to the shaft, with at least one locking member which can move between an unlocked position in which the sleeve can rotate in the forward direction and a locked position in which the locking member locks the sleeve to the shaft member to prevent rotation of the sleeve in the reverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Rollerbrak (Proprietary) Limited
    Inventor: Tertius F. Dreyer
  • Publication number: 20030038014
    Abstract: A shaft 6 of a motorized roller 1 is fastened to a side wall 17a of a frame 17 through a plate 19. An engaging portion 14 of the shaft 6 is fitted into a hole 21 of the plate 19 so as to prevent rotation of the shaft 6 relative to the plate 19. As a nut 22 tightened on a threaded portion 15 of the shaft 6 presses and urges the plate 19 against the side wall 17a, teeth 20 formed at the corners of the plate 19 bite into the surface of the side wall 17a and prevents rotation of the plate 19 relative to the side wall. Thus the shafts 6, 7 are fastened unrotatably relative to the side wall 17a.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2002
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Inventors: Kazuo Itoh, Tomonobu Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 6523665
    Abstract: A curved section of a roller conveyor includes a plurality of conveyor roller assemblies each formed by an elongated rigid cylindrical base tube with a bearing and stub axle unit mounted on each end portion of the base tube. The stub axle is spring biased and has a slightly resilient outer surface and a metal core pin. A tapered tubular sleeve of plastics material is mounted on an outer end portion of the base tube with the large end of the sleeve adjacent the outer end of the base tube. Preferably, the sleeve extends axially less than 50% of the length of the base tube and has a press-fit on the base tube with a radial pin locking the sleeve to the base tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Rolcon, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank D. Nimmo, William R. Merz, W. Howard Newton
  • Patent number: 6523664
    Abstract: A gravity feed roller track and method of manufacturing same are disclosed. The roller track includes a roller tray in which a plurality of rollers are frictionally held. The tray includes a bottom wall from which first and second side supports normally extend. Each of the side supports is substantially z-shaped in vertical cross-section. More specifically, each of the side shapes includes upper and lower vertical sections laterally spaced by an angled extension wall. A plurality of recesses are provided in the extension walls and lower vertical support wall for receipt of hubs of each of the rollers. The tracks allow for smooth rolling and dispensing of product from the roller track, accommodate a range of product sizes, and enable a single size roller to be used with tracks of various width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: B-O-F Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Shaw, Edward I. Knorring, Jr., Henry Massett, Joseph Coretti, Jr., Charles Nicholas
  • Publication number: 20030034222
    Abstract: A conveyor roller having a spring loaded telescoping tubular axle with tapered hexagonal shaped ends allowing quick replacement in the side frame openings of a conveyor when the openings are worn to an oversize. The tapered hex ends also provide for a tight fit between hex ends and hex holes in the frame to lessen relative motion (rattling) between the two surfaces that causes wear and noise. The roller can be installed from either side of the conveyor because the axle is collapsible from either end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Applicant: Alvey Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian L. Gamache
  • Patent number: 6516933
    Abstract: A readily bendable rolling conveyor guide is provided. The guide includes axle-positioning members having notches. The axle-positioning members slidably engage channels mounted to a structural support member. A plurality of axles carrying rotatable elements and spacers are disposed between the axle-positioning members. Due to the notches in the axle-positioning members and the unique cross-section of the exterior of the channels, the assembled guide may be bent at small radii without causing distortion of the channels or interference between the axle-positioning members and the channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Valu Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Stuart J. Ledingham
  • Publication number: 20030019714
    Abstract: A gravity feed roller track and method of manufacturing same are disclosed. The roller track includes a roller tray in which a plurality of rollers are frictionally held. The tray includes a bottom wall from which first and second side supports normally extend. Each of the side supports is substantially z-shaped in vertical cross-section. More specifically, each of the side shapes includes upper and lower vertical sections laterally spaced by an angled extension wall. A plurality of recesses are provided in the extension walls and lower vertical support wall for receipt of hubs of each of the rollers. The tracks allow for smooth rolling and dispensing of product from the roller track, accommodate a range of product sizes, and enable a single size roller to be used with tracks of various width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Shaw, Edward I. Knorring, Henry Massett, Joseph Coretti, Charles Nichols
  • Publication number: 20030015394
    Abstract: An elongated cylindrical roller tube is rotatably supported between frame members by a pair of bearing units secured to opposite end portions of the tube. Each bearing unit includes a tubular shaft supporting a hexagonal stub axle for axial movement between an outwardly projecting position engaging a frame member and an inwardly retracted position against the bias of a spring member. An anti-friction bearing is mounted on the tubular shaft and is retained within the roller tube by an annular adapter. An annular dust cover projects radially outwardly from the tubular shaft to protect the bearing. Some parts are molded of an electrically conductive plastics material, and each hexagonal stub axle has a slightly resilient outer surface and a tapered and twisted outer tip portion. The stub axles are reinforced by axially extending core pins or by opposite end portions of a cylindrical connecting rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2002
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Applicant: Rolcon, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank D. Nimmo, William R. Merz, W. Howard Newton
  • Patent number: 6499580
    Abstract: A high capacity and easy to maintain insert for a cooling bed plate transfer grid. In order that the inserts may be installed or replaced at a remote location thereby requiring removal of the grid to the remote location, the height of the grid is adjustable so that it may be easily re-installed after the servicing at the remote location. The roller height is set to a fixed non-adjustable height during initial insert installation so that, during the subsequent re-installation, there is advantageously no requirement for adjustment of the roller height. This allows the grid and inserts to be easily and quickly re-installed in the field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Inventor: Ronald L. Plesh, Sr.
  • Patent number: RE38517
    Abstract: The present invention features a universal, low profile, expandable flow track system that can be drop-load mounted to almost any supporting frame or pallet rack. The flow track system of the invention features a flow track that mounts flush with its end supports, and is infinitely adjustable along both the horizontal axis and depth axis of the storage frame. The flow track is quickly assembled to, adjusted upon, and removed from, the storage frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Unex Conveying Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Harold Pfeiffer, Frank J. Neuwirth